Search - Serge Prokofiev, Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel :: Panorama: Sergey Prokofiev

The Maazel is the reason I bought it!

Josef Krebs | Seattle | 02/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The rest of the issue is fabulous, but the Maazel recording of the fifth symphony is simply definitive. Wonderful playing and a sympathy for romanticism in the conducting brings out every last bit of pathos in the third and fourth movements. And that's what you want, right? Pathos? I mean, we're listening to a Soviet composer. So - over the expressive Rostrapovich, the impressively technical Szell, and the expository Tilson-Thomas - this is the one to have. The one that blends all these attributes together, revealing Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony as one of the finest in the genre. Buy it now."

Wonderful introduction to a 20th century romantic

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 08/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prokofiev was one of the most difficult of all composers for me to come to, understand and enjoy. I read much about him, learning that he was a 20th century romantic and not a modernist, as some conductors approach him. You hear much of that romance in this set, which is a marvelous introduction to this multidimensional composer.



Claudio Abbado is not universally loved but was good enough in Europe to get the Berlin Philharmonic job after Herbert von Karajan died. His musical pedigree includes a generous portion of Prokofiev. He is well represented on this set, first with an upbeat version of the "Classical" Symphony No. 1, then as accompanist to Shlomo Mintz in the Violin Concerto No. 1 -- a very dreamy modern concerto -- and leading the Chicago Sympphony in the closing solo from "Alexander Nevsky" score.



I don't have much respect for Abbado's destractors and would say they are all off-base in his Prokofiev, especially the selections included in this CD. If you enjoy his work here, consider getting his CD of the full "Alexander Nevsky" which is mated with a dynamic "Scythian Suite" and a good reading of Prokofiev's most popular selection, the "Lt. Kije Suite".



Abbado isn't the only reason to buy this set. It contains the young Martha Argerich's famous version of the spiky Piano Concerto No. 3 (again abetted by Abbado), some very romantic selections from "Romeo and Juliet" led by Rostropovich, a few piano pieces by Sviatoslav Richter and a largely unknown version of the Symphony No. 5 led by Lorin Maazel.



I looked in every book I own and on every database I could find for a critical review of the Maazel-Cleveland Orchestra redering of the 5th Symphony, which is Prokofiev's best in that genre.



I couldn't find a review and was forced to make up my mind on this sans outside influence. I don't exactly know how I feel about it, although I liked it more than other versions I'd heard. It seems to be an interesting symphony with a wonderful second movement, one that lends credence to arguments that Prokofiev was more European than Russian. It is certainly a much better performance than the dreadful version conducted by Levine, which I also owned.



All told, this collection is exactly what it proposes: a Prokofiev Panorama. Everything on it is adequate to good, some great, and most in sparkling digital sound. It gives a 5 by 5 impression of Prokofiev as a romantic Russian influenced by European musical ideas. It casts aside any notion that he was a Soviet composer in league with Khachaturian and clearly differentiates him from his period countryman, Shostakovich. It is a good place to begin a more detailed examination of this 20th century composer."

Beautiful and enjoyable

Klarenka | 03/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony" in a concert, I decided I had to buy a recording. This is the best one I've heard. All the pieces on this CD are beautifully played, and the performers put a playful air in them when necessary (especially in the Classical Symphony). Shlomo Mintz is absolutely wonderful in the Violin Concerto, as is Martha Argerich in Piano Concerto No. 3. The suite from Romeo and Juliet is superb as well, lyrical and playful. This is a CD I recommend for everybody, even for people who don't usually like classical music."